Combination clock and home savings-bank.



E. A. KLAGES.

COMBINATION CLOCK AND HOME SAVINGS BANK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG/1 1915. 1 13. Patented Feb; 13, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

INVENTOR WITNESSES Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. A. KLAGES.

COMBINATION CLOCK AND HOME SAVINGS BANK.

APPLICATION FILED Aue 4.1915.

WITNESSES n ens ant once.

communion CLOCK AND HOME SAVINGS-BANK.

intense;

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb; T3, T91?,.

Application filed August a, 1915. Serial No. 43,503.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. KLAons, a-

citizen of the United States, residing at.

Grafton, in the county. of Allegheny and Stateof- Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Combination Clock and Home- Savings-Bank, ofwhich the following is a I will be best understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in Which I have.

,tion of the mechanism.

full, clear, and, exact description, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings,

forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a rear view,with a part of the casing removed, of a combination clock and savingsbank embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the same, partly inpla'n and partly in section, theplane of the sec-' tion being on the line II-H of Fig.- 1.

- Fig. 3 is 'a view partly in side elevation and partly in section, theplane of'the section being on the line IITIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing a por- Fig. 5 is a face view of thecoin controlled and ejecting mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a vertical-section through the same.

Fig. 7 is a face view from the opposite side of the coin chute.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the calipering member.

Fig. 9 is a 'detail sectional View illustrating the coin ejectormechanism, and

Fig. 10 is a detail plan view thereof.

My invention has relation to a combination clock and home savings bank.The object of my invention is to provide a device for the encouragementof saving, by combining with a necessary or useful article of householduse, a savings device, the two being so related that the article cannotbe used until a proper coin or coins have firstbeen deposited in thesavings bank. Thus, my invention provides a clock whose windingmechanism cannot be operated until a locking device therefor has beenreleased by the placing in the bank of a proper coin or coins.

' The particular nature of my invention shown a preferred embodimentthereof, and

which will now be described,it beingpremised,

however, that various changes can be made in the details of constructionand arrangement of the several parts without departing from-the spiritand scope of my invention as defined inthe appended claims.

' stance'shown, the wall of thiscavity oppo- My invention can be in thenature of an attachment'to a clock, or it may be embodied in the samecasing with the clock mechanism. The latter construction is illustratedin the drawings. In these drawings the -numeral 2 designates acasing ofany-suitable character containing the usual clock mechanism and having aclock face (not shown) at its front. side 3. 4 designates the mainwinding stem orpost of the clock which, in accordance withfmy invention,is extended through a rear compartment 5 of the casing and is providedat .its outer end'with' any suitable finger grasp or button 6; In theconstrue-- ti'on shown the post 4 is designed to be turned to the left,or in a counter-clockwise direction in winding the clock spring Se curedon the extension of the post 4 within the compartment; 5 is a ratchetwheel '7 which, when engaged by a pawl 8, securely locks the winding.post from being turned. This pawl is designed .to be released by theinsertion of a suitable coin or coins-in the bank in the manner and bymeans of the devices which will now be described.

v The pawl 8 is pivoted at 9 on a pawl carrier 10, which is'in turnpivoted at 11-; 12

is a spring bearing on the rear portion of, the pawl and mounted on thecarrier 10.

This carrier has the upwardly projecting finger 13 and a downwardlyprojecting finger 14, the finger 13 engaging atone side a projection 15of a coin calipering member 16, and the finger 1t engaging the oppositeside of another projection 17 of said coin calipering device. This coincalipering device has the upper and lower end trunnions or pivots 18,which are mounted in suitable bearings in lugs 19 rigidly secured to thecasing of the coin chute 20. This coin chute,

having a coin entrance 21 at its upper end,

is formed by a member 22 having the edge flanges 23, one of which is cutaway atintervals, as shown at '24, to receive-respectively, theprojecting calipering fingers 25, 26 and 27 of the member 16. Theconstruction of the coin chute and the relative arrangement of thecalipering device with respect thereto will be-best understood byreference to Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The member-22 is cut away or isrecessed to form the coin receiving cavity 28 between the edge flanges23, this cavity terminating inthe rounded bottom 29. In the particularinsite the slots '24 is formed with concave coin arresting shoulders 30and 31, the cavity being of decreasing width toward its lower end, andthe surfaces 30, 31 and 29 being so arranged that a coin of onedimension, say a dime, when dropped in the chute will fall to the bottomof the cavity and rest against the surface 29; a coinof larger size,

such as a nickel, will be arrested at the surface 31; while a coin ofstill larger diameter, such as a .quarter, will be arrested at 30.

. The opposite edge of each coin will be engaged by one of thecalipering fingers 25, 26 or 27 The face portion of the member 22 is cutaway to receive a member 32 which is movable in and out from a positionin which its inner surface is substantially flush with the inner surfaceof the face portion of the member 22, to a position in which its innersurface is substantially flush with the inner The plug is arranged toslide in an opening in the guide 36. 37 is a stem having a squaredportion 38 arranged to engage an angular opening in a disk 39. This diskhas a peripheral notch 40 adapted to be en-. gaged by a spring pawl 41to prevent the stem from being turned in the reverse direction. This isbest shown in Figs. 1 and 10. The outer end of the stem is provided witha suitable actuating button 42. Also mounted on theangular portion 38 ofthe stem 37 is a disk 43 having a resilient cam surface preferablyformed by a volute spring 44. As the button 42 is turned .in a clockwisedirection to rotate the cam, the free end of the spring 44 will firstcontact with a projecting pin 45 and will then snap into engagement withthe projection 15 of the calipering member.

The calipering member is also engaged by a spring 46 whose pressure isexerted in the opposite direction to that of the spring cam. The actionof the spring cam is, however,

the stronger of the two. By reason of the fact, before described, thatthe fingers13 and 14 of the pawl carrier project in opposite directions,the finger 13 engaging one side of the projection 15 of the coincalipering member and the finger 14 engaging the opposite side of theprojection 17 of said device, and the two fingers 13 and 14 being atopposite sides of the pivot 11, it will be seen that the pressure ofeither the spring cam 44, or of the spring 46, will act upon the pawlcarrier-in a manner to hold the pawl 8 in locking engagement with theratchet wheel 7 if either finger 13 or 14 is engaged by its respectiveprojection 15 or 17. Northe fing( r 13 of the pawl carrier 10 and re-'tains the pawl in the position shown in Fig. 1. When a coin of theproper size is dropped into the coin chute, it will engage one of thecalipering fingers 25, 26 or 27 which will arrest its downward movement;the spring cam is then rotated, and as soon as it clears the projection15 the coin will drop onto its proper ledge'30, 31 or 29, as thecalipering fingers will'be moved in the reverse direction by means ofthe spring 46 which is normally in action. This movement of thecalipering device in the reverse direction will cause the projection 17to engage the finger 14 on the pawl carrier 10 and retain the pawl 8 inthe position shown in Fig. 1. As the spindle 37 is rotated, the springcam 44 will engage the pin 45 which will increase the tension thereof,and as the spindle 37 is rotated beyond this point the spring camwill-snap off of the pin 45 and strike the member 15 a sharp blow, whichwill reverse the movement of the calipering device against the action ofthe spring 46 and bring its respective fingers 25, 26 or 27 against thecoin in the chute, and bring the calipering device to the centralposition to unlock the pawl 8 and permit the clock to be rewound.

If a coin of too small diameter is present in the coin cavity, it willbe seen that this will permit of a greater inward movement of thecalipering finger under the action of the spring cam; and that this willresult in a: sufficient movement of the pawl calipering member to causethe projection 17 thereon to engage the finger 14 on the carrier to lockthe ratchet 7. It is only. therefore, when a coin or coins ofsubstantially the right size are present inthe coin cavity, and the stem37 is turned, that the lock is released. 4

It will be seen that the pawl carrying arm of-the pawl carrier isrelatively long with respect to its fingers which are engaged by thecalipering device; and that the calipering device is so constructed andmounted that its portions which engage the pawl carrier form relativelylonger lever arms than do the calipering projections. Consequently, avery slight difference in the degree of movement of the caliperingfingers 25, 26 and 27 will effect a "cry considerable movement at theend of the awl 8.

A slight amount of play or lost motion is provided between theprojections 15 and 17 of the calipering member and the fingers 13 and 14of the pawl carrier 10, so as to make provision for a slight wear of andreduction new ies in the diameter of the coins. 'This lost motion is,however, not sufiicient to permit any slug or coin of materially lessdiameter than the predetermined size to be successfully used. g

It will be" seenthat the winding mechanism of the clock may be releasedwhen either one of the three denominations of coins is inserted when twoof such coins are m inserted,or when all three are inserted. Thispermits the user to deposit a' greater or less amount in the bank eachtime the clock is wound, if desired.

For the purpose of automatically releasing the coinand restoring thelook after the clock is wound, I provide the following mechanism: 47 isa cylinder which is secured on the extension of the winding post 4, andwhich is provided on its periphery with a helical groove 48, havingstops 48 and 48 near the ends thereof. Seated in this groove is a pin orstud 49 on a lever arm 50 which is pivoted at 51 to oscillate in ahorizontal plane, the portion thereof which carries the pin 49 beingcapable of moving from stop to stop over the groove 48 and which stopsare adapted to limit the winding and unwinding movement of'the stem 4.Beyond the pin 49 the lever has a shoulder 52 which is adapted tocontact with the end of a dog or pawl 53 which is pivoted at 54 on a pin55 (see Figs. 4 and 10) extending through a slot in the guide 36 andpassing through the pin or plug 33. 35 As the clock is wound up the pin49 trav els from the stop 48 to the stop 48". As the clock now starts torun, the pin 49 moves back in the opposite direction and actuates thelever arm to a position in which its shoulder portion engages the outerend of the pawl 53. This pawl has the beveled surface 56, and isnormally pressed against the stop pin 57 by a spring 58 and which pinextends upwardly from the guide 36. As the lever 50 presses against theend of the pawl 53, the latter is forced'inwardly through the force theejector 32 inwardly through the medium of the pin and plug 33. Duringthis inward movement of the pawl the in- 50 clined surface 56 thereonwill ride over the pin 57 which will cause it to move laterally, whilethe inward movement of the coin ejector 32 will push the coin from theseat on which it is resting and permit it to drop 55 down through thechute into a suitable receptacle, such as 59. The movement given thepawl 53 by its inclined surface 56 riding against the pin 57 also throwssaid pawl backwardly out of engagement with said shoulder 52 and permitsthe coin ejector to return to its normal position. The pin 49 may be solocated as to cause the coin to be ejected at any desired point in theunwinding movement. In case a slug or coin of improper size has beeninserted in the coin chute and coin cavity, it can be ejected at anytime by pushing inwardly on the button 42, thereby actuating the ejector32.

- In order to prevent the device being tipped to permit a. coin to rollout after the clock has been fully or completely wound, I may provide aguard device of the character now tobe described. This device consistsof a spring pressed sliding pin 60 arranged to project into the upperportion of the coin cavity. The outer end portion of-this pin is engagedbyone arm of a lever 61 pivoted at 62 and having its other arm inposition to be engaged by an extension 63 of the lever 50 go just beforethe pin 49 engages the stop 48'. The guard pin 60 will thus be forced inacross the upper portion ofthecoin cavity in position to prevent a coinbeing tipped or rolled out atthe end of the winding move- 5 ment, andwill be retained in that position until after the clock has run asulficient length of time to release the lower end of the .lever 61 topermit the spring 60 to return the pin 60 to its inoperative position,leaving the cavity free to receive another coin.

The advantages of my invention .will be apparent, inasmuch as itprovides a home savings bank device in useful form. The savings bank iscombined with a useful and necessary article of household use, whichcannot be used without a deposit of the proper coin or coins; and thisfurnishes a motive for the regular and systematic deposit of coins. Inthe ordinary home sav ings bank, this is largely a matter of convenienceor whim; whereas by means of my invention it is made compulsory at suchintervals as the clock requires to be wound.

I claim:

1 llhe combination with the winding mechanism of a clock, of a lockingdevice therefor, a coin receptacle, a coin chute havinga coin stoptherein, means whereby the presence of a coin on said stop effects a release of said lock, means for ejecting the coin after the clock isre-wound, said means comprising a device operated by the windingmovement of the winding mechanism, and means controlled by the windingmechanism to close the coin chute before the completion of the windingof the clock, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the winding mechanism of a clock, of a lockingdevice 12o therefor, a coin receptacle, a coin chute having a coin stoptherein, means whereby the presence of a coin on said stop effects arelease of said lock, means for ejecting the coin after the clock isrewound, and a coin 5 guard for preventing the removal of a coin afterit has been inserted, and operating connections between said guard andthe winding mechanism of the clock, substantially as described.

3., The combination with a clock having a winding mechanism, a lockingdevice for said mechanism, a coin receptacle, a coin chute or passagearranged to deliver coins into the receptacle, a calipering device forthe coins, means for retaining the calipering device in one of itsltwoextreme positions, and means controlled by a 'coin for preventing thecalipering device moving to one of its extreme positions for releasingsaid'lock,

as described.

5. The combination with a clockhaving a winding mechanism, of a locktherefor, a coin receptacle, a coin chute or passage arranged to delivercoins into the said receptaele', said chute or passage havinga pluralityof coin arrestinggmeans, and devices whereby the presence of a propersized coin in any eneor more of the arresting means will cause therelease of said lock, said devices comprising a calipering member havinga plurality of calipering portions adjacent to the different coinarresting means, substantially as described. I

6. The combination with a clock having a winding mechanism, a locktherefor, a coin receptacle, a coin chute arranged to deliver coins intosaid receptacle, a calipering device cooperating with said chute andarranged 'to be oscillated, and arranged to be arrested in its movementin one direction by a coin to'release said lock, and means forautomatically ejecting the coin at the proper time, substantially asdescribed.

7. The combination with a clock having a winding mechanism, a locktherefor, a coin receptacle, a coin chute arranged to deliver coins intosaid receptacle, a movable calipering device cooperating withsaid chute,and arranged to be arrested by a coin to release said lock, and meansfor automatically ejectemmas a winding mechanism, of a locking pawltherefor, a pivoted carrier for said pawl, a

coin caliperingdevice engaging and controlling the movements of the pawlcarrier, and a coin chute having coin arresting means cooperating withthe calipering device, substantially 'as described.

9. The combination with a clock having a winding mechanism, of a locktherefor comprising a pawl, a movable carrier for the pawl, amdvablecalipering device cooperating with the carrier and arranged tohold the pawl in.loclnng engagement in either of its two extremepositions, and means on said calipering device for arrest ing themovement thereof to permit the pawl carrier to drop to disengage thepawl to permit the clock to be'wound; substantially as described.

10. In a device of the characterdescribed, the combination with alocking mechanism having a pawl, amovable pawl carrier, and

a movable coinacalipering device c0operat ing with the'pawl carrier,said calipering device having a plurality of diflerently arrangedcalipering members for engagement with coins of dilferent sizes.

11. The combination with a clock having a winding mechanism, of a locktherefor, a coin controlled release for said lock, and means forlimiting the movement of the winding mechanism in both directions,substantially as described.

. 12. In a device of the character described, the combination with alocking mechanism having a pawl, a movable pawl carrier, a movable coincalipering device cooperating with the pawl carrier, and a rotary springcam for actuating the pawl carrier, substantially as described.

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD A. KLAGES.

'Witnesses 1 Jesse B. HELLER, H. M. CORWIN.

